Federal grant programs / Department of Labor

WIOA Dislocated Worker Formula Grants (17.278)

Also known as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker Program

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$5.4 billion
• Grant awards332
• Typical award$9.3 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$1.1 billion
• Size rank90 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $1.1 billion in fiscal 2021 and $1.1 billion in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 90th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 79% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 57 states and territories.

What the program funds

Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorized three of the six WIOA core programs. The WIOA Dislocated Worker program is one of the three core programs. The purpose of the WIOA Dislocated Worker (DW) program is to help dislocated workers get back to work as quickly as possible and overcome barriers to employment. When individuals become dislocated workers as a result of job loss, mass layoffs, global trade dynamics or transitions in economic sectors, the DW program provides services to assist them in re-entering the workforce. States can reserve up to 25 percent of their DW funds for Rapid Response activities. The program's success is measured by the following core indicators of performance: 1. Employment Rate - 2nd Quarter After Exit; 2. Employment Rate - 4th Quarter After Exit; 3. Median Earnings - 2nd Quarter After Exit; 4. Credential Attainment Rate; 5. Measurable Skill Gains.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Under WIOA, the entities eligible to receive formula-based funding from the Department are the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas. Funds are allotted based on a statutory formula and states, in turn, allocate funds to local workforce development boards (approximately 600), which are responsible for operating comprehensive American Job Centers (approximately 2,300 nationwide).

What the money can and cannot pay for

WIOA specifies that most services for adult and dislocated workers will be provided through the American Job Center (AJC) Network, also known as the one-stop career center system. It authorizes that funds be used to provide career services, which are classified into two categories: basic and individualized services. While some job seekers may only need self-service or other basic career services such as labor exchange services, others may need more comprehensive services, such as individualized services, which include career planning, and developing an individual employment plan outlining needs and goals of the job seeker. Participants will also receive training services linked to job opportunities in their communities. To promote customer choice and involvement in career decisions, participants use an "Individual Training Account" (ITA) to select an appropriate training program from an eligible training provider list (ETPL). WIOA also authorizes the provision of supportive services (e.g. transportation and child care assistance) to enable an individual to participate in the program. Funds must be used in accordance with the statute and regulations. ;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. , Part (b), Subpart (2)(B),Public Law (iii)(I).WIOA regulations related to formula requirements are available at 20 CFR Parts 676, 677, and 678.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply Application deadlines are published annually in guidance issued by the US Department of Labor.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

WIOA formula grants vary annually and are published in the Federal Register.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 96% of the money, colleges and universities 0.8%.

By state

55 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.